Course or track for skating.



No- 849,665. I PATENTED APR. 9, 1907.

- A.F.'DEVEREUX.

corms OR TRACK FOR SKATING.

APPLIOATION TILED D110. 22, 1906.

uunlllll! nnirnn s'ra rns rr rnwr orrr'on COURSE OR TRACK FOR SKATING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

Application filed December 22,1906. Serial No. 349,202.

To all whom it WWI/y concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR F. DEVEREUX, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York,

with a post-ofiice address at Park Row Building, in said city, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Courses or Tracks for Skating, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to a course or track for skating both by means of roller-skates and with certain necessary modifications for ice-skates as well.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the amusement or sport of skating may be greatly increased, while the particular object of my invention is to provide means rendering more popular and entertaining the sport of skating with ice and roller or like skates either in conjunction with ordinary rinks or as a distinct means of amusement or sport.

In my invention I provide by an artificial course such a track or floor for the skaters as to allow for an increase of speed at certain parts of the way or track from the acceleration of gravitation. I propose forming the track or course with a plurality of portions of diiferent levels, so that the whole becomes a series of undulations, beginning, preferably, with a descent from a portion of the floor or track at some distance above the lowest part and then rising and falling in alternating sections until the lowest level is reached. By these means a skater may glide down the way or track with practically no muscular effort. At the same time the velocity of descent will be varied agreeably by the fact that it will be necessary to ascend after each descent, the momentum of the skater providing the energy necessary to carry him over each crest or hill of the way.

In the drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 repre sent the way and portions thereof My invention may be best understood by referring to the well-known roller-coaster, so called, on which cars running upon rails descend from a height and pass a more or less great number of undulations in the descent. I propose a skating floor or track provided with an undulating surface, the beginning of the path being suitably elevated and the undulations so arranged as to allow a more or less quick descent from each point of high level to the next following depression or point of lower level, the system being so adapted as to allow for the momentum of the skater carrying him over the successive elevated portions.

Necessarily a part of my invention includes a railing or fence along the sides of the way or track.

\Vhile the grades found on the ordinary roller-coaster are perhaps too sharp for safety with skates, yet it is obvious that the grades may be so adapted to the conditions that the descent from the top to bottom of the track may be made with a sufficient degree of safety and at the same time furnish all of the exhilaration due to the successive rises and descents in the progress down the way. In the event it is desired to utilize iceskates it is obvious that the floor or way may be composed of piping containing some freezing liquid, as cold brine, or other refrigerating means may be used, natural or artificial. ater may be frozen over the surface of the system of piping, and a comparatively smooth surface of ice thereby obtained. Obviously the grades of the track or way may be lessened with the use of ice, and experience ill determine the limit of safety of such grades. In the event the degree of exhilaration produced by the mere fact of skating down the course up and over the several hills or raised portions is not suflicient it is obvious that I may provide a series of one or more complete gaps in the track over which the momentum of the skater ill carry him, as in the well-known ski sports of the north of Europe. With roller-skates such jumps could be made safe and would contribute to the sport consider ably.

I propose to use my invention preferably in connection with the. ordinary type of skating-rinkth at is, in connection with a smooth and practically level floor. The runway or track could advantageously be placed so as to surround the main level floor and to debouch thereon, the starting-point being reached by stairs, elevators, or other means. Two or more complete circuits of the level floor could be made, if desired, before the level of the main skating-floor was reached. By providing the railing of the elevated undulating course with openings through which the descending skaters could be seen by the skaters upon the floor, or preferably by forming the protecting-railing of a wire-netting or its equivalent, the popularity of the invention would be greatly increased. Aside from the connection with the skating-floor with a level surface, it is obvious that such a course as described could be made with a sufficient length to enable the skater to travel a considerable distance before he reached the lowest level, and, if desirable, portions of the course or track may be formed without grade, thereby affording opportunity for the occasional exercise of muscular energy.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an elementary form of track or course, the

railing being indicated at 1 as being made of wire-netting held by iron or other suitable framework. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of an approximately circular track or course surrounding a level skating-floor, while Fig. 3 shows a crosssection of the course.

Specific details of construction With reference to ice-skating are not given, as this invention relates more particularly to the construction of such a track or course as a whole rather thanto specific details of floor con struction.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A track or course for skating having points of maximum and minimum elevation connected by a series of undulations of intermediate elevation.

2. A track or course for skating having a high starting-point and a gradual descending grade broken up into a plurality of undulations.

3'. A track or course for skating consisting of an undulating surface with a gradually-descending grade as a Whole.

4. In a track or course for skating an elevated starting-point and a downgrade therefrom broken up into undulations.

5. In a track or course for skating an elevated starting-point, an undulating descent therefrom, and a railing for preventing accidental falls therefrom, substantially as set forth.

6. In a skating track or course, the combination of a high starting-point, a descent more or less broken by undulations and means for preventing skaters from accidentally falling from said course.

7. In a track for skating a high starting point and a descent consisting of a series of variously-curved surfaces whereby the velocity of descent of a skater may be varied.

8. In a skating track or course, the combination of a high starting-point and a descent therefrom, means on such descent to modify the velocity of a skater descending thereon, and guard-rails for preventing accidents.

9. In atrack or course for skating a relatively high point for starting, a descent there from broken up by undulations and guardrails at the sides, substantially as set forth.

10. In a track orcourse for skating an elevated starting-point and means for varying through the effect of gravity the velocity of a skater on said track or course.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this the 1st day of June, 1906, at New York, N. Y.

A. F. DEVEREUX.

In presence of LoUIs GRIEssMAN, Tnos. W. TROY, Jr. 

